Eyelet



Dec. 7, 1937. S GOOKW 2,101,060-

EYELET Original Filed April 16, 1955 VE/V 7 551 wwww UNITED STTES rATENT OFFICE EYELET Sylvester L. Gookin, Quincy, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. 5., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 16, 1935, Serial No."16,644

- Renewed December 23, 1936 10 Claims.

This invention relates to eyelets, and more particularly to those intended to be secured by roll-clenching, thas is, clenching without being split into prongs. trated as embodied in two forms both of which include one feature of the invention, and one of which includes another feature thereof.

Although roll-clenched eyelets are now being used more extensively than formerly because of increasing objection to the ragged edges of metal produced by the more common practice of splitting the clenching ends of eyelets into prongs, nevertheless, the problem'of producing a satisfactory roll-clench for soft'eyelet-receiving materialssuch as leather and textile fabrics has not been completely solved. This results from -the fact that the eyelets heretofore available, even those not scored for splitting, have too little ca-' pacity to be stretched'in the process of being upset and clenched. Splitting begins'when the limit of stretching is exceeded, and this condition restricts the width or spread of a roll-clench so .much that eyelets so clenched often are not anchored so strongly as is desirable in materials such as those mentioned above.

This shortcoming is due, as eyelets have heretofore been made,to the condition of the metal of the clenching ends of eyelets before they are .upset and clenched. As heretofore made, the clenching ends of roll-clench eyelets have been relatively thin and provided with acute edges slightly ragged in consequence of the punching out of their central portions after the barrels have been drawn. Some manufacturershave resorted to the expedient of grinding away the sharp clenching ends to blunt them, but the increase thus obtained in the potential range of stretching the clenching ends is not great enough to satisfy the requirement above outlined.

With these considerations in view an object of thepresent invention is to provide an improved eyelet that can be roll-clenched with greater spread and with greater holding power than that of any former type of eyelet of corresponding size.

Accordingly, one of the aforesaid improvements that constitutes a feature of the present invention, consists in an eyelet the barrel of which is provided with a blunt clenching end thicker in cross-section than any other portion of the barrel and including an internal unscored bead of supplemental metal the width of which, in proportion to its extent of projection, is sufficient to prevent its being bent back or folded by the (operation thereon of a roll-clenching tool.

The invention is herein illus- Since the beadis too wide in proportion to its extent of projection to be bent back or folded by a clenching tool all its metal remains at the clenching end of the barrel throughout the upsetting and clenching process. This supplemental metal, having been worked very little, if at all, in the making of the eyelet, retains virtually all of its initial ductility. Consequently, as the clenching end is turned inside out in the upsetting operation the supplemental metal provided by the bead finally lies at the outer surface of the clenched end,and because of its greater ductility and its greater capacity to flow it counteracts the thinning of the clenching end and thus augments the range of stretching. Accordingly, if the clenching end of such an eyelet is roll-clenched to thelargest circle within its range of s'.retch ing a considerable gain in the size of this circle will be the result. To obtain fulladvantage of this improvement the annular operating surface of the clenching tool should be designed to roll the clenching end of the barrel to the largest size consistent with the potential range of stretching. Since the bead of supplemental metal cannot be bent back or folded by the clenching tool itis merely stretched, thinned and turned inside out, and finally its edge becomes embedded in the eyelet-receiving material.

The invention also provides another improvement for increasing the holding power of rollclenched eyelets in soft materials, such as leather and textile fabrics, capable of being inden.ed by the clenched end of an eyelet. The common practice of nicking, indenting or otherwise scoring the clenching ends of eyelets has heretofore been limited to eyelets intended to be split into seg-- ments or prongs in the process of upsetting them, the purpose of the scoring being to'insure that the splits shalloccur at regular predetermined intervals. 'When the segments or prongs thus divided are clenched against the eyelet-receiving material they lie in face-to-face relation thereto, and the scoring furnishes no supplemental holding effect. Moreover, the scoring so weakens the metal that splitting begins at an early stage in the upsetting process.

I have demonstrated in practice, however, that if the clenching end of an unclenched eyelet has only external nicks or kerfs that do not intersect the internal margin of thatend, the eyelet may be roll-clenched without being split, provided that end 'is sufficiently thick or blunt and has a bead-of supplemental metal of sufiicient radial dimension-to counteract the weakening effect of the nicks or kerfs. The improvement now under consideration consists in an eyelet of ductile metal the barrel of which is provided with a blunt circular clenching end including a bead of supplemental metal, the inner margin of that end being an unscored and uninterrupted annulus but the outer margin being divided into segments by a series of kerfs sufficiently numerous to provide for roll-clenching that end without splitting it.

When such an eyelet is roll-clenched the divided segments lie at the inner margin of the clenched end and are surrounded by an annulus of unscored and undivided metal. The segments between the kerfs provide teeth that become deeply embedded in the eyelet-receiving material and strengthen the anchorage of the eyelet. As the clenching end of the eyelet is stretched in the upsetting process the kerfs grow wider, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the teeth.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a magnified cross-section of an unclenched eyelet provided with an internal bead proportioned in accordance with the improved feature first mentioned;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of a roll-clenched eyelet developed from an unclenched eyelet of the type shown in Fig. 1, the view also including portions of cooperative tools for upsetting and clenching such an eyelet;

Fig. 3 is an end view of an eyelet such as that shown in Fig. 1 except that its clenching end is provided with external kerfs; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the eyelet shown in Fig. 3, the plane of the section being indicated by line IVIV.

The eyelet illustrated in an unclenched condition in Fig. 1 and in a clenched condition in Fig. 2 is made of ductile sheet-metal andcomprises a drawn barrel portion II), a flange I l at one end thereof and an internal annular bead I2 of relatively unworked metal at its clenching end. Said bead, which is unscored, extends inwardly substantially normal to the axis of the barrel and with substantially uniform projection and crosssection all the way around the barrel, thereby providing said barrel with a substantially fiat clenching end I3 of substantially greater thickness than the rest of the barrel. Thus, the bead serves uniformly to re-enforce and thicken the clenching end of the barrel thereby supplying a reservoir of metal all the way around said clenching end to be drawn upon when the eyelet is being upset and spread, thereby greatly decreasing the tendency of said end to split. Moreover, the bead provides an annulus of supplemental metal having a relatively high degree of ductility, much more, in fact, than the rest of the barrel which loses much of its initial ductility in consequence of being drawn from a fiat blank. The bead I2 is therefore well adapted to flow when the clenching end of the eyelet is turned inside out in the process of being upset and rollclenched, and thus to supply the demand for metal as the clenching end is stretched while in process of being rolled. The bead I 2 has a width or axial dimension sufiicient, in proportion to its thickness or radial dimension, to prevent its being bent back or folded by the operation thereon of a roll-clenching tool, to the end that all the metal at the clenching end of the eyelet, including the surplus metal provided by the bead, will remain a single ply throughout the upsetting and roll-clenching process. Preferably the width of the bead is as great as the thickness of the wall of the barrel III, while the thickness of the bead is considerably less, although of sufficient magnitude to provide the required supplemental quantity of metal for the purpose stated.

The bead I2 may be provided as a result of punching a hole in the substantially unworked crown or cupped end of a partially formed eyeletblank with a punch slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the barrel It, provided that said crown or cupped end is so shaped, and the punching operation is so performed, that the remaining bead, in conjunction with the barrel portion from which it projects, serves to give the eyelet a blunt, substantially flat clenching end of substantially greater thickness than the rest of the barrel, and one in which the bead has substantially uniform radial projection and cross-section all the way around the interior of the barrel, or provided that, after such punching operation, the clenching end is flattened to produce such results. However said end is provided, the clenching'end of the eyelet should be blunt and thicker than any other portion of the barrel and of sufi'icient radial extent to undergo the necessary stretching without being torn or split. A punch of proportionate diameter is indicated b.v dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 illustrates a pair of cooperative setting tools I4 and I5, the latter of which is provided with an annular operating surface I6 of concave section designed to turn the clenching end of an eyelet inside out to produce what is known as a roll-clench. The tools It and I may be operated in any suitable eyelet-inserting machine, for example a machine of the type illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,228,768, grantedJune 5, 1917 on an application of P. R. Glass. In such an organization, the clenching tool I5 is provided with a tubular pilot I1 that cooperates first with a punch-block (not shown) to cut or punch an eyelet-receiving hole in an article of sheet material I8 such as a shoe-upper, the pill or chip I9 cut from the Work being forced to pass through the bore of the tool. Having made a hole in the work, the tool I5 moves laterally until it stands in alinement with thel ower tool I4 which is provided with a central bore for the usual spring-pressed spindle 20 that normally projects therefrom but may be forced back into the tool I 4 as shown. As the tool I 4 rises it thrusts the clenching end of an eyelet along the pilot I? and through the work I8 until the clenching end is upset and clenched as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The pilot I! is tapered to enable its lower end to enter the hole surrounded by the bead I2 and to centralize the clenching end of the eyelet before the latter encounters the concave operating surface IE. The inner surface of the bead slides first on the pilot and thereafter on the surface I6 which turns the clenching end of the eyelet inside out and thereafter impresses that end into the upper surface of the work I 8. As the diameter of the clenching end grows larger,its thickness is reduced, but since the curled or rolled portion connecting the clenched end with the body of the barrel undergoes a corresponding reduction in thickness in consequence of being stretched, the difference in thickness between the single ply of the beaded clenching end and the connecting portion is not lost in the flowing of the metal. Consequently, the clenched end retains its beaded formation although it necessarily undergoes some distortion and takes one. slightly rounded section as a result of the flowing of the metal.

Although the holding power of a roll-clenched eyelet such as that above described is considerably increased by the bead formation, it may be further increased by providing the outer edge of its clenching end with a suitable number of kerfs to divide that edge into individual segments as represented in Figs. 3 and 4. A clenching end having the characteristicsillustrated in these figures may be readily obtained from an eyelet of the type shown in Fig. 1 by indenting a series of kerfs 2i in the manner shown. These kerfs lie as on the surface of a cone represented by dotted lines 22 in Fig. 4. The kerfs intersect the outer surface of the barrel I0 and the outer margin of the end face l3 but they do not intersect the inner margin of the latter surface. Experience has demonstrated that if the kerfs are sufiiciently numerous and not too deep the uninterrupted inner margin of the clenching end will stretch sufliciently for roll-clenching without being split. Because of differences in the ductility of various metals, the extent to which the ductility is dissipated in certain portions of eyelets in process of manufacture, and because the designs of clenching tools are not uniform, it is not always possible to determine in advance exactly how many kerfs .2l will be necessary to avoid splitting, but it has been found that under favorable conditions 20 kerfs are sufficient.

One way to form the kerfs 21 is to indent them with an internally coned tool provided with converging indenting ribs all arranged to act simultaneously when the tool is forced against the clenching end of an eyelet with movement lengthwise of its axis. When the kerfs are impressed into the eyelet in this manner small quantities of the metal are displaced, with the result that the segments 23 between the kerfs become slightly bulged outwardly while the inner surface of the bead l2 may be slightly bulged inwardly to form corrugations 24. The magnitude of these bulging formations may be slightly exaggerated in Figs. 3

v and 4, but the drawing shows their locations.

such an eyelet turns the clenching end inside out the segments 23 which lie initially on the outer margin of that end finally lie on the inner margin thereof, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and the. kerfs 2! again lie as on the surface of a cone indicated by dotted lines 25.

In the process of upsetting and roll-clenching such an eyelet, the uninterrupted inner margin or annulus of metal at the clenching end becomes stretched, the kerfs 2| grow vw'der and the corrugations 24 are eliminated, in consequence of the stretching, and the bulging segments 23 finally become embedded in the surface of the work against which they are clenched. Moreover, as the blunt clenching end is thrust through the hole in the work 18 it curls the rim of the hole toward the clenching surface l6, thereby forming an annular flange on the work that fills the cavity in the rolled portion of the clenched eyelet. Consequently, when the eyelet is clenched the individual segments 23 at its clenched end are embedded in this curled flange of the work and hold it securely against being pulled out of the cavity.

Having described the invention, what I claim as newand desiretosecure by Letters Patent of the United State's'is: I

1-. An eyelet ofdu-ctile metal'having a barrel provided with a blunt clenching end thicker in cross-section than any other portion of the barrel and including an internal unscored bead of supplemental metal the axial extent of which is 1 so great in comparison with its extent of radial projection that when the pilot of a roll-clenching tool is inserted into the barrel the head will not be bentbackor folded'by the operation thereon of such tool.

2. An eyelet of ductile metal having a barrel provided with a blunt clenching end thicker in cross-section than any other portion of the barrel and including an internal unscored bead of supplemental metal the axial extent of which exceeds its extent of radial projection to prevent the bead from being bent back or folded by the operation thereon of a roll-clenching tool.

3. An eyelet of ductile. metal having a barrel provided with a blunt clenching end including an annular bead of metal, the inner margin of said end being unscored but the outer margin thereof being divided into segments by a series of kerfs sufficiently numerous topro-vide for roll-clenching said end without splitting it.

4. An eyelet of ductile metal having a barrel provided with a blunt clenching end thicker in cross-section than any other portion of the barrel and including a bead of supplemental metal, the inner margin of said end being an unscored annulus but the outer margin thereof being divided into segments by kerfs: sufficiently numerous to provide for roll-clenching said end without splitting it.

5. An eyelet of ductile metal having a barrel provided with a blunt clenching end thicker in cross-section than any other portion of the barrel and including an internal head of supplemental metal, the inner margin of said end being an unscored annulus but the outer margin thereof be-' ing divided into segments by kerfs sufliciently numerous to provide for roll-clenching said end without splitting it.

6. An eyelet of ductile metal having a barrel provided with a blunt circular clenching end thicker in cross-section than any other portion of the barrel and including a bead of supplemental metal, the inner margin of said end being an unscored annulus but the outer margin thereof being divided intosegments by kerfs that lie as on the surface of a cone and are sufiiciently numerous to provide for roll-clenching said end without splitting it.

'7. A roll-clenched eyelet having an annular clenched portion thicker than the rolled portion that connects it with the body of the barrel, the outer margin of said annular clenched portion being continuous but the inner margin thereof being divided into a series of spaced segments arranged to be embedded in. the work through which the eyelet extends. I

8. An eyelet of ductile metal having a barrel provided with a blunt clenching end thicker in cross-section than any other portion of the barrel and including an internal unscored bead of supplemental metal substantially normal to the axis of the barrel and of substantially uniform radial projection all around the barrel, the'axial extent of which bead is so great in comparison with its extent of radial projection that when the pilot of a. roll clenching tool is inserted into the barrel the bead will not be bent back or folded by the operation thereon of such tool.

3V 9. An" eyelet of ductile metal having a barrel provided with a blunt clenching end thicker in cross-section than any other portion of the barrel and including an internal unscored bead of supplemental metal the radial projection of which is normal to the axis of the barrel and of substantially uniform extent all around the barrel, and theaxial extent of which exceeds its extent of radial projection all around the barrel to prevent the bead from being bent backor folded by the operation thereon of a roll-clenching tool.

10. An eyelet of ductile metal having a barrel bent back or folded by the operation thereon of a 10 roll-clenching tool.

SYLVESTER L. GOOKIN. 

